PC SUP hosts first summer race

Torin Koos, front, and the rest of the elite race competitors take off from the starting line on Saturday at the Jordanelle Reservoir. Adam Spencer/The Park Record

Though the Jordanelle Reservoir isn’t as full as in years past, there was still plenty of water, waves and wake for the competitors at the Park City Standup Paddleboarding Cup on Saturday morning.

With boards lining the concrete at the personal watercraft ramp, racers filtered into the water as their events were called, starting with a surfboard-style race and ending with a dash for the cash, in which the fastest male and fastest female competitors were each awarded $500.

"We got really lucky with the weather," he said. "We had nice calm water and plenty of sunshine. We couldn’t have asked for better."

Hickman oversaw the day’s activities, but also competed in the elite division race, where he finished a close second to Kristian Mulholland.

"Kristian and I had a nice little battle going," he said. "We were neck and neck."

Hickman beat Mulholland at one of the races last year, but he said he just couldn’t quite get around him on the last lap of Saturday’s race.

"He’s a beautiful competitor," Hickman said. "He trains hard and he’s sort of a scientist with his methodology. My hat’s off to him; he earned it. But we’ll see what happens in August (at the next PC SUP Cup race)."

Mulholland also won the dash for the cash on the men’s side, with Amy Spencer capturing the check from RyanTech for the women.

Hickman said the event has changed since last year.

"It’s grown a bit, and we’re happy to grow it organically," he said. "We get the same people back race after race, and then they bring a friend. We’re happy with the growth process that we have because we definitely want to keep it in the community and inspire the people here in Park City to come out and do the race and understand the sport."

The Cup race proceeds benefited the Park City Recycle Center/Recycle Utah, as well as the Park City Education Foundation and a group called DesignBuildBLUFF, which builds sustainable houses for Native American families in Bluff, Utah.

Hickman said the organizations were chosen because they all fit the philosophy of PC SUP.

"We believe in taking care of the planet clean water, clean rivers, snow, fresh air," he said. "We truly believe in doing the best job we can to take care of the environment."

He said education is an important part of that mission too.

"The children are the future, so we want to support the kids any way we can," he said. "And if you take education and you combine it with sustainability and recycling, out the other end comes a better planet."

Hickman said there were too many sponsors to thank individually, but that he and PC SUP appreciate all the time and products donated to the organization.

"There are so many local businesses that support us," he said. "We’re really thankful for all the community support we get. It helps us put on a quality event."